From here to New York

Continental Express has new flight schedule with quicker trip to Newark

Friday, April 23, 2004

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com

Getting to New York City and nearby cities from Huntsville International Airport may be quicker and more convenient than travelers think.

Continental Airlines' regional airline, Continental Express, started daily nonstop service from Huntsville to Newark Liberty International Airport in November; this month, the schedule for some of the flights between Huntsville and Newark, Continental's New York hub, was changed to try to make the trip easier.

The new flight schedule makes it possible for leisure travelers to reach New York City early in the day to fit in more sightseeing, said Barbie Peek, director of marketing for the Port of Huntsville. Business travelers can arrive in New York and area cities in time for an afternoon meeting and return to Huntsville the same day.

"People are used to flying to (New York's) LaGuardia Airport" instead of Newark, Peek said. "It's just a matter of changing people's mind-set."

US Airways Express dropped its nonstop flight between Huntsville and LaGuardia earlier this month.

A 7:15 a.m. flight from Huntsville has replaced Continental's 11:25 a.m. departure. There's also a 3:36 p.m. nonstop flight to Newark. Flights depart Newark for Huntsville at 9:35 a.m. and 6:35 p.m. The early evening flight gets back to Huntsville around 8 p.m.

The Continental Express service to Newark is aboard a 50-passenger Embraer regional jet.

A group of Huntsville and Decatur reporters and photographers was among the passengers leaving on that early morning flight from Huntsville on Wednesday, landing at Newark less than two hours later.

Royce Richardson and Debbie Horton, longtime friends from Huntsville who take a "girls'" getaway trip every year, picked New York City this year. They also took the early Wednesday flight, planning to get settled in their hotel and start sightseeing by the afternoon.

"We'll take in some sightseeing, plays and shopping," Richardson said. "We work really hard, and we decided to take a break." She figured she and Horton would take a cab into New York City from Newark.

Travelers also have less expensive options. They can take the free AirTrain monorail service from the airline terminals to the airport's train station. From there, they can take a train operated by NJTransit or Amtrak to New York's Penn Station at Eighth Avenue and 31st Street. The NJTransit trip is $11.55; Amtrak costs $26. Olympia Trails bus service has stops in New York City at the Port Authority bus terminal, Grand Central terminal and Penn Station.

The train trip typically takes less than 30 minutes.

About 80 trains operate from the Newark airport to New York City and back every weekday, said Norm Powell, a sales liaison with Continental in Newark. On weekends, more than 60 trains operate.

Bob Atterbury, a senior principal analyst with Aeronautical Radio Inc. in Huntsville, was flying with colleagues Wednesday morning to Newark. The group planned to rent a car and drive about 45 minutes to the Communications and Electronic Command headquarters at Fort Monmouth, N.J., for business meetings.

The group would have a full afternoon of meetings Wednesday, then more meetings until 4 on Thursday afternoon before catching a flight back to Huntsville early Thursday evening.

"We can be back in Huntsville by 8 at night," Atterbury said. "It's absolutely great."

The Newark airport opened in 1928 with a site of 68 acres, said Powell, the Continental representative. The 2,300-acre airport, where the New York City skyline is visible, is managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which also manages LaGuardia and Kennedy airports. It had 29 million passengers arriving and departing in 2003.

Continental accounts for more than 60 percent of the flights at Newark, Powell said, with both Continental Airlines and Continental Express typically having 397 daily departures from the airport.



From here to New York Continental Express has new flight schedule with quicker trip to Newark Friday, April 23, 2004 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com Getting to New York City and nearby cities from Huntsville International Airport may be quicker and more convenient than travelers think. Continental Airlines' regional airline, Continental Express, started daily nonstop service from Huntsville to Newark Liberty International Airport in November; this month, the schedule for some of the flights between Huntsville and Newark, Continental's New York hub, was changed to try to make the trip easier. The new flight schedule makes it possible for leisure travelers to reach New York City early in the day to fit in more sightseeing, said Barbie Peek, director of marketing for the Port of Huntsville. Business travelers can arrive in New York and area cities in time for an afternoon meeting and return to Huntsville the same day. "People are used to flying to (New York's) LaGuardia Airport" instead of Newark, Peek said. "It's just a matter of changing people's mind-set." US Airways Express dropped its nonstop flight between Huntsville and LaGuardia earlier this month. A 7:15 a.m. flight from Huntsville has replaced Continental's 11:25 a.m. departure. There's also a 3:36 p.m. nonstop flight to Newark. Flights depart Newark for Huntsville at 9:35 a.m. and 6:35 p.m. The early evening flight gets back to Huntsville around 8 p.m. The Continental Express service to Newark is aboard a 50-passenger Embraer regional jet. A group of Huntsville and Decatur reporters and photographers was among the passengers leaving on that early morning flight from Huntsville on Wednesday, landing at Newark less than two hours later. Royce Richardson and Debbie Horton, longtime friends from Huntsville who take a "girls'" getaway trip every year, picked New York City this year. They also took the early Wednesday flight, planning to get settled in their hotel and start sightseeing by the afternoon. "We'll take in some sightseeing, plays and shopping," Richardson said. "We work really hard, and we decided to take a break." She figured she and Horton would take a cab into New York City from Newark. Travelers also have less expensive options. They can take the free AirTrain monorail service from the airline terminals to the airport's train station. From there, they can take a train operated by NJTransit or Amtrak to New York's Penn Station at Eighth Avenue and 31st Street. The NJTransit trip is $11.55; Amtrak costs $26. Olympia Trails bus service has stops in New York City at the Port Authority bus terminal, Grand Central terminal and Penn Station. The train trip typically takes less than 30 minutes. About 80 trains operate from the Newark airport to New York City and back every weekday, said Norm Powell, a sales liaison with Continental in Newark. On weekends, more than 60 trains operate. Bob Atterbury, a senior principal analyst with Aeronautical Radio Inc. in Huntsville, was flying with colleagues Wednesday morning to Newark. The group planned to rent a car and drive about 45 minutes to the Communications and Electronic Command headquarters at Fort Monmouth, N.J., for business meetings. The group would have a full afternoon of meetings Wednesday, then more meetings until 4 on Thursday afternoon before catching a flight back to Huntsville early Thursday evening. "We can be back in Huntsville by 8 at night," Atterbury said. "It's absolutely great." The Newark airport opened in 1928 with a site of 68 acres, said Powell, the Continental representative. The 2,300-acre airport, where the New York City skyline is visible, is managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which also manages LaGuardia and Kennedy airports. It had 29 million passengers arriving and departing in 2003. Continental accounts for more than 60 percent of the flights at Newark, Powell said, with both Continental Airlines and Continental Express typically having 397 daily departures from the airport. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.